Category: PGA

Harbour Town Golf Links is the site of this year’s MCI Heritage. None of the world’s top ten players are competing in this event and I’ve got a hunch that no one in this year’s field is missing any of them.

There is a good chance that no one in the top ten could have bettered Peter Lonard’s performance today as he posted an impressive 9-under 62. If Lonard hadn’t had a bogey on the first and last holes he’d have some bragging rights as he was only one stroke off the course record of 61. His eleven birdies in one round aren’t too shabby and it was good enough for the lead. In his four years on the PGA Tour, Lonard’s only PGA win came in 2003 at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at La-Costa.

Continue reading “Lonard Goes Low at MCI Heritage Amid Windy Conditions”

The Masters is now in the past as far as the tournament itself goes, but the memories of Sunday afternoon will stick with the fans for much longer. Davis Love III chipped in at 16 in the final round of The Masters once, but his memories are likely to be far stronger at this week’s PGA Tour stop at Hilton Head for the MCI Heritage. Davis Love III has won five times here, after all.

Continue reading “MCI Heritage Preview”

Another Masters Tournament is in the books. As usual, plenty of news was made at Augusta National Golf Club. Let’s take a quick run through some of the bigger topics, including Tiger (of course), Jack Nicklaus bowing out, and gamesmanship between two of the Big Four.

Tiger’s Fourth Masters Win
Where does Tiger Woods’ fourth Masters victory fit in with his previous three titles? 1997 was the most momentous, as he shocked the golf world with his domination. 2001 ranks second, as it completed the “Tiger Slam” of four consecutive major victories. 2002 is third, being most notable for making Woods only the third person to successfully defend a Masters title (along with Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo).

Continue reading “Quick Thoughts on the Masters”

Only two hours ago, Chris DiMarco held a four-stroke lead over Tiger Woods. Play ended yesterday with DiMarco at -13 and Tiger Woods at -9. Oh how a lead can change at Augusta!

In the span of two hours this morning, Chris DiMarco double-bogeyed the tenth, bogeyed the 14th, bogeyed the 15th, and bogeyed the 17th to fall to -8. Tiger Woods continued the birdie streak he began on 7, 8, and 9 right on through 10, 11, 12, and 13 to get to -13 before bogeying 14 and 15. He parred in and finished the third round at -11 after a firing tournament-low 66 and then a new tournament low (with Trevor Immelman) 65. Tiger is now three strokes clear of Chris DiMarco, whose third-round 74 matches Woods’ first round score.

Continue reading “Tiger Takes the Lead at Augusta”

Chris DiMarco fired a second straight 67 to finish off his second round in the morning, then came out firing in the afternoon with three birdies and no bogeys to get to -13. Tiger Woods, who finished off his morning with a tidy little 66, birdied five holes against no bogeys in the opening nine of the third round to get to -9.

Jack Nicklaus made news as well, noting that he would be playing in his last Masters. “I knew it was my last time walking up the fairway,” said Nicklaus. “Obviously, I had made up my mind. This is just too tough for me. I just can’t do this.” He tipped his hat to the gallery at the ninth – his last hole – and received a round of applause. This year marked the 45th Masters for the Golden Bear, winner of six. He finished at 153, +9 and five off the cut.

Continue reading “DiMarco Leads, Tiger Lurks, and 27 to Go at Augusta”

When play resumed Friday morning at The Masters, players hoped to finish their first and second rounds before going into the weekend. Play was suspended due to darkness Thursday evening, leaving 68 golfers still out on the course. The weather forecast once again called for rain showers on Friday, which is nothing new for the PGA Tour in 2005. The day started off positive, however, as everyone at least finished their opening round.

But once again, Mother Nature had the last laugh on this day. The players were called off the course at about 12:40 pm, and play was officially suspended for the day around 4 pm. The guys will be teeing off Saturday morning at 8:30 am, and they will once again be asked to get as much golf in as possible. The goal is to get The Masters back on track by getting in the second and third rounds tomorrow, leaving the final round for Sunday.

Continue reading “Friday At Augusta Brings More Rain”

Chris DiMarco started where he left off last year and Tiger Woods never really got started at all in the rain-shortened Thursday at Augusta.

DiMarco, who last year played in the final group alongside eventual winner Phil Mickelson, finished fourteen before play was suspended. His four-under-par total currently leads The Masters.

Tiger Woods found the water on the thirteenth… with his putter. His eagle putt was struck too firmly and rolled off the front of the green. He later birdied 15, but had an interesting front nine. Looking to make a move at +1, his approach to the first hit the flagstick and careened into a bunker. He failed to get up and down from a bad lie in the bunker and bogeyed. At the par-5 second, he chunked his driver 100 yards up the left-hand side of the hole, but somehow managed to save a par.

Continue reading “Thursday at The Masters”

Go figure: another tournament affected by Mother Nature.

The Masters, first delayed to 10:30, will now move to a two-tee start at 12:30pm. Gates will open at 11:30am, and television coverage is still expected from 4-7pm on USA Network.

With rain and thunderstorms forecast for the rest of the day, it’s likely the tournament may be further delayed. Fortunately, with only a 92-man field, it will be somewhat easier to make up rounds than it has been for standard PGA Tour events, which feature 130-man fields.

The last time a day of play at The Masters was completely rained out was in 2003. Mike Weir, the eventual winner, played 30 holes on Friday, 24 on Saturday, and 19 – including a single playoff hole – on Sunday.

Update: Tee times have once again been pushed back to 1:00pm.
Another Update: Make that 1:30pm.